The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 has just gone official and it is one of the largest tablets out there with a massive, 12-inch display. However, Microsoft aims for the Surface Pro 3 to be much more than a regular tablet - it wants customers to use this as the one cross-over device that would come in lieu of using both a laptop and a tablet.

In order for this to happen, though, the Surface Pro 3 has to be good first as a tablet. Let’s see how it fares against its most obvious competitors: the 9.7-inch Apple iPad Air and the 12.2-inch Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2.

In terms of specs, the Surface Pro 3 is truly outstanding - it ships with a 4th generation (Haswell) Intel Core chip with the performance of a full-blown laptop. Even the basic model ships with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, and the highest-end model reaching a configuration with a blazing-fast Core i7, 8 gigs of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. Here are all the models of the Pro 3 that you'd be able to get:

4th gen Intel® Core™ i3, 64 GB and 4 GB of RAM - $799

4th gen Intel® Core™ i5, 128 GB and 4 GB of RAM - $999

4th gen Intel® Core™ i5, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,299

4th gen Intel® Core™ i7, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,549

4th gen Intel® Core™ i7, 512 GB and 8 GB of RAM - $1,949

Put simply, even the most affordable Pro 3 is much more powerful than the iPad Air and the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2, but hey, we should not forget how much more expensive even that 'affordable' model is compared to those tablets. Right below we compare the Core i7 Surface Pro 3 with the Note Pro 12.2 and iPad Air in greater detail, take a look at the huge difference. Have specs convinced you to order a Surface Pro 3? Let us know what you think about it in the comment section below.

Pixel density - The pixel density of a display represents the number of pixels over an area of one inch. It’s measured in “pixels per inch”, or ppi. The higher the number, the more detailed and good-looking the display is.

216 ppi

247 ppi

264 ppi

Technology

Technology - There are two main screen technologies currently used in phones and tablets: LCD and AMOLED. The former usually features a light source and liquid crystals, while the latter is based on organic light-emitting diodes.
Newer LCD variations like IPS-LCD and Super-LCD allow for very accurate color reproduction and very wide viewing angles, where no significant image quality loss is observed.
Current AMOLED screens differ in such a way that they can exhibit much more saturated colors (sometimes too much) and incredibly high contrast levels, which is due to black color being completely black in AMOLED displays.

IPS LCD

Super Clear LCD

IPS LCD

Screen-to-body ratio

72.88 %

71.57 %

71.65 %

Colors

16 777 216

16 777 216

Camera

Camera

5 megapixels

8 megapixels

5 megapixels

Flash

LED

Aperture size

Aperture size - The aperture of a camera is the opening through which light travels before it reaches the camera sensor. The smaller the number is, the bigger this opening is, allowing for more light to pass.

F2.4

Camcorder

1920x1080 (1080p HD)

1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)

1920x1080 (1080p HD) (30 fps)

Features

Digital image stabilization

Front-facing camera

5 megapixels

2 megapixels

1.2 megapixels

Video capture

1920x1080 (1080p HD)

1920x1080 (1080p HD)

1280x720 (720p HD)

Hardware

System chip

System chip - Most modern handsets use an advanced chip that includes many of the device’s hardware modules like the processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sometimes even the wireless radio. This field shows what particular system chip (or System-on-a-Chip) is used in the phone.

Intel Core i7

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974

Apple A7 with 64-bit architecture

Processor

Processor - The processor is the main computing component of a phone and is a major factor when it comes to the overall speed of the device. Some more powerful smartphones use dual-core and quad-core processors designed to deliver greater performance.

Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400

Dual core, 1400 MHz, Cyclone

Graphics processor

Intel HD Graphics

Adreno 330

PowerVR G6430

System memory

System memory - System memory, or RAM memory is the type of memory that the device uses to temporarily store data from the OS or currently-running apps. The more RAM available to the device, the better the performance will be when multiple or heavier programs are running.

8192 MB RAM (Dual-channel) / LPDDR3

3072 MB RAM (Dual-channel, 800 MHz) / LPDDR3

1024 MB RAM / LPDDR3

Built-in storage

512 GB

64 GB

128 GB

Storage expansion

microSD, microSDHC

microSD, microSDHC

Battery

Music playback

131.00 hours

Video playback

111.00 hours

Capacity

9500 mAh

8820 mAh

Type

Li - Polymer

Not user replaceable

Yes

Yes

Technology

CDMA

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access. A technique of multiplexing, also called spread spectrum, in which analog signals are converted into digital form for transmission. For each communication channel, the signals are encoded in a sequence known to the transmitter and the receiver for that channel. The foremost application is digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800MHz band and 1.9GHz PCS band. CDMA phones are noted for their excellent call quality and long battery life.

Why compare all 3 tablets? First of all for the majority of the population's needs would be fulfilled with an inexpensive Android tablet or the Apple iPad w/3g or the Samsung Tab Pro w/3g. If you want PC gaming and Microsoft development then go for a surface pro. (However if you want the Gaming and development then you could save a bundle and buy a much cheaper laptop and buy an iPad and/or Samsung tablet as well. Two for the price of one.

I still don't quite get your point to my comment o.O I'm a bit lost. Most of my tech needs are fulfilled by my Z2 and the rest are by my computer. But only someone who really needs to pick up their laptop more than 10 times a day would need a tablet at the price tag. A doctor, for example, would be a good candidate for a Pro 3.

Based on what exactly? all of them are heavier for one. 2, of those 3 options only one runs full windows. I'm sorry, your "silly" macOS will never compete with windows. Or even linux for that matter. I would take either anyday over the apple option. Then, with the HP option, it doesn't have a pen. Sure, you may not use it, but I do. Also, I know MANY people that do. I'm far from a windows apoligist, as I *HATE* W8 with metro, but the Surface, especially in it's current form isn't a bad option. If they had released the 3 about 2 months ago I would have bought it over the Ativ tab 7 that I ultimately decided on after my Asus U35JC decided to self incinerate. As it was the best option with a pen at the time. 10.1 was never a good size for a full windows laptop.

The Surface Pro 3 is way better than the MacBook at that price as it offers better specs and a better and more useful OS overall, as OS X is a closed and almost restricted platform which is starting to show its age in terms of the UI & is not for the average Joe, who wants good browsing, gaming and software.
But of course, iFans will disagree.

And you don't think Windows 8.1 is not closed or restricted? Ever since Windows 8. Windows is has become very restricted. You just have to make a new app using the modern UI. That will tell you how closed and restricted Windows has become.

The mac is the joke around here. You have to think bout this not too many files can be READ on the MAC. Plus the MAC is over price for a laptop. and with the SURFACE PRO 3 you can expand the memeory with a SD CARD and options too choose frome 799-1,200 for power house users.

The MBA and MBP are not overpriced in their segment, so you need to check again. As for files, with the exception of .exe executables, there aren't any "files" you can't read on a Mac. For that matter, the MBA and MBP run Windows better than similarly priced and specced PC competitors.

mac book pro ???
really ???
u even play games?
u write codes?
i assume you're buying it just for showing off the brand cause playing music and movies and surfing the internet is clearly already achievable for you by what ever you're using right now !

My point is that Microsoft is trying to get people to ditch laptops for their surface. My laptop, with a larger screen, better specs, and additional features (multiple usb ports, hdmi port, harman-kardon speakers, etc) is cheaper than their top of the line model. My comment was to indicate that I would rather use the surface as a tablet, not as a laptop, which it seems is the direction that Microsoft is heading. Does that answer your question?

'Writing in internet'? Is internet a language? And I'm not sure why you're calling me an idiot, as my comments weren't ever meant to offend anyone. But I'm sure 15 year olds like yourself have a difficult time controlling what you think and do. I hope it gets better for you when you get older. Have a great day! Oh, and desktops aren't portable, that was my other viewpoint. Desktops are more powerful yes, but not portable.

not sure if you think that " microsoft is trying to make people change from heavy duty laptops to a SP3"
They presented their target pretty well, ultrabooks; they compared it on stage against the MB air ..

Because you can't fit an i5 inside an iPad Air form factor. Basically me and a lot of people are going to bite on the surface pro once it hits that ipad 4 or nexus 10 level of comfort and usability that makes it actually usable as a tablet.

Not a chance in a million years the iPad Air dimensions can be usable as a laptop and still include an i5. Ipad 4 and nexus 10 dimensions are just borderline good enough to be used as a netbook with an i5 in it. So once it hits that I'll pay a 1000 easily.

It looks like they are there or surface pro 5 at the latest. So I might bite on this.

What are you going on about??? The iPad 4 and iPad Air differ in slimness and weight in terms of physical aspects, they both have a 9.7inch display so it makes no sense whatsoever for them to use the iPad 4 in this comparison, they should've used the iPad Air and make this a fair comparison.

Plenty of people care, quit summing it up to what YOU feel, not every consumer is as aware as us. The consumer needs to be shown the newest of each to get an idea of what they may want. If this was a size comparison it would've been stated.

Comparing the iPad 4 and normal Surface 2 makes sense. I have just done a comparison over at GSMArena between iPad Air, iPad 4, Surface 2 and the Surface 3 dimensions posted here, it makes your argument look rather stupid to be quite honest as the iPad Air and 4 are still pretty close to each other that PhoneArena should've just use the Air anyway, so your argument is rather weak and pointless.

As I thought, PA made a mistake by using the iPad 4 and they've now changed it to the Air. The only moron here is you, your argument was stupid and idiotic, they knew that, I knew that, unfortunately our thickness didn't allow you to realize it, shame. :)

No one cares about the specs because we all know the surface pro blows away any ipad, whether it is the air or the 4, out the water in terms of specs. It is the size only that many are concerned with and they picked the right tablets to compare IMO. Maybe they should have added the Nexus 10 too but that's about it.

No, they didn't pick the correct iPad, not at all, quit making excuses! They should've used the iPad Air as it is the iPad 4 successor! This is a comparison of the overall tablet, so they SHOULD be using the very latest available for all platforms yet they didn't for iOS

Yes they did moron. The only thing ultra book devices these days care about are size and usability. Everyone with a brain knows the surface pro blows away the ipad in everything except size and portability.

All we care about is how close ultra books are to tablets now in size and usability.

And this comparison shows that it is quite close to the ipad 4 now. We all know it would be nowhere as compact and light as the iPad Air.

Quit being a dumb ass. Ultra book hybrid >>>> tablet period. No need to compare anything besides size and if by using size, the ipad 4 dimensions give us a better gauge.

The consumers are not as aware as you think, to them this is being sold as a tablet, that immediately gets them wondering how it is against Apples latest offering and Samsungs.

If PhoneArenas point is to show how far the Surface has come in size despite its beastly specs then they would've pointed that out, they would've gone and used older tablets like the 1st Note, the 1st iPad and so on.

This is meant to be a spec comparison to show how the thing stacks upto the latest Android and iOS tablets.

I sort of agree with him. The difference between the Air and 4 really aren't that big of a deal outside of the 64 Ax chip. But that is still leagues behind a dedicated i3. The only part they screwed up on in the comparsion is putting down 16GB for the iPad since they put the max GB on for the Surface number. 128 still isn't even half but it does skew the numbers some.

But not everybody knows how the iPad 4 and Air differ, that is the issue. If Phonearena were doing what Taters is assuming, they would've been far more elaborate, they would've used their size comparison tool with images of the Surface Pro 3 against the iPad 4 and so on so as to give a good In-depth idea of how far MS have come with the Surface despite its hardware.

I know it can run games. BTW, FIFA's spec requirement isn't that high. I saw Pro 2 runs Diablo 3 and Elder Scroll. However, when it comes to games and software that requires even more "power", Surface Pro 3 isn't up for the job. For $2,000, this really isn't for everyone. Even the lowest option at $800, I could find a way better laptop for that price.

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